Puri, swa news : In the sacred city of Puri, where every breath resonates with devotion to Lord Jagannath, the 3rd International Jai Shri Jagannath Day unfolded with grandeur and spiritual fervor at the Town Hall on Monday. This year’s celebration held special significance as it coincided with Hanuman Jayanti, Maha Bishuba Sankranti, Odia New Year, and Pana Sankranti—marking a divine confluence of spiritual and cultural observances.
Organized by the Shree Jagannath Seva O Sanman Trust, Bhubaneswar, the day-long celebration, running from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., was held under the guidance of Chhatisha Nijyog Nayak Shri Janardan Pattajoshi Mohapatra, Shri Madhusudan Singhari, Shri Nilamani Guru, and the Trust’s General Secretary Shri Diganta Dey.
The event began with sacred Vedic chants by Dr. Chakradhar Kar from Shri Sadashiv University, Puri. The ceremonial lamp-lighting was conducted by an esteemed panel including Shri Soumendra Muduli (Muduli Sevayat Advisor), Pandit Shri Pravat Ranjan Mahapatra, Editor of Paika Nijyog Shri Nilamani Guru, Trust Chairman Shri Pradeep Tripathy, Shri Samarendra Rout, and Shri Gaur Mahapatra. Dr. Swagatika Mohanty, Head of the Odia Department at Shri Sadashiv University, eloquently anchored the celebration.
Throughout the morning session, spiritual discourses explored Jagannath’s consciousness and its eternal relevance. Notable speakers included Shri Soumendra Muduli, Shri Nilamani Guru, the former Vice-Chancellor of Shri Jagannath Sanskrit University, Shri Harihar Hota, and Shri Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra, the former Head of the Vedanta Department at the same university. Their collective message emphasized a singular truth: “Jagannath consciousness offers timeless solutions to modern complexities.”
At midday, devotees received traditional Pana to mark Pana Sankranti. Pana Prasad Sevan followed this, led with heartfelt devotion by Shri Aadhyan Mohapatra, who ensured that each participant received the blessings of Mahaprabhu through sacred food offerings.
Simultaneously, humanitarian activities took center stage. A Blood Donation Camp, organized in collaboration with the Red Cross and efficiently managed by Shri Padma Lochan Mohapatra, Secretary of the Trust, witnessed enthusiastic participation from numerous devotees. Additionally, Trust members Shrimati Jayashree Tripathy and Shrimati Pallavi Mohapatra managed the free mega health camp. A team of specialist doctors from SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar—covering departments such as Neurology, General Medicine, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, and Paediatrics—provided free consultations and distributed essential medicines.
The event also saw the participation of NIKHILA ODISHA SWECHASEBI MAHASANGHA (NOSM) representatives: President Shrimati Sujata Pashayat, Secretary, Shri Antaryami Baral, Vice-President, Shri Manoj Kumar Das, State Zonal Head, Shrimati Priyamvada Nayak, Puri District Coordinator, Shrimati Arundhati Behera, Puri District President, Shrimati Sabita Mishra, District Vice President, Shrimati Jhanshirani Mishra, and District Secretary Shri Devi Prasad Mishra. Shrimati Sujata Pashayat spoke on the power of volunteering, emphasizing its role in building stronger communities through selfless service.
Post-lunch, the energy shifted towards interactive and engaging experiences. Children enthusiastically participated in a quiz competition titled *“Sri Jagannath nka Jana Ajana”, conducted by Chandra Bijayee Mishra, which explored lesser-known facets of Jagannath’s divine stories. Winners received prizes sponsored by Ele Animation, drawing cheers and applause from the audience.
This was followed by a special screening of the animated film “Jai Jagannath”, produced by Ele Animation, Bhubaneswar. The visual journey immersed devotees in the divine world of Mahaprabhu and was met with heartfelt appreciation.
As evening descended, the atmosphere turned devotional with the collective chanting of the 108 names of Shree Jagannath. The final segment of the program honored individuals who have upheld and promoted Jagannath culture through various fields. The prestigious “Shree Khandua Bhakta” title was conferred for the first time upon internationally acclaimed dance maestro Padma Shri Durga Charan Ranbir for his extraordinary contribution to classical dance and Jagannath heritage.
The “Sevak Samman” was awarded to Sevak Surya Narayan Pujapanda, a revered Sevayat of the Jagannath Temple; Sevak Gopal Das, a noted yoga guru and social reformer; Sevak Madhusudan Mishra, senior journalist at OTV; and Police Administrator Yogesh Swain, recognized for his integrity and spiritual alignment in public service. The evening session was smoothly conducted by Abhinandan Das, whose eloquence added warmth to the closing hours of the celebration.
The event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Shri Pradeep Tripathy, Chairperson of the Shri Jagannath Seva O Sanman Trust. He extended deep gratitude to all guests, volunteers, and attendees, urging everyone to live the teachings of Lord Jagannath not just for a day, but as a way of life and chant Jai Shree Jagannath.
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